Cheyse Blair, left, celebrates scoring the only try of the game at Photograph: /AAP

Manly came out on top in yet another absorbing, low-scoring encounter with the Sydney Roosters on Friday night to gain a modicum of revenge for last year's grand final defeat.

A first-half try from former Roosters junior Cheyse Blair and a Jamie Lyon penalty separated the sides for most of the game, before Lyon added a second two-pointer on the siren to hand the Sea Eagles an 8-0 win.

Brisbane Broncos handed St George Illawarra Dragons their first defeat of the season in the night's other big game at WIN stadium in Wollongong.

It was the first time since round two in 2012 the Roosters have been held scoreless as their attack failed to spark, and it was thanks only to some outstanding defence that they found themselves only 6-0 down at half-time.

Three of the four meetings between the two sides in 2013 produced single-digit margins of victory, and once again it was another tight affair on a heavy pitch at Allianz Stadium.

The Sea Eagles were boosted by the return of Kieran Foran from a calf injury, and he and halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans were superb, outshining opposite numbers Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney to move their side to 3-1 for the season.

However, they were without Glenn Stewart for most of the game after the NSW back-rower was forced off with concussion following a hit to his head from Jared Waerea-Hargreaves' shoulder midway through the first stanza.

Once again the Roosters, the most penalised side in the NRL in 2013, were heavily outweighed in the penalty count 11-2, but they were unable to create enough pressure in attack to try to force the visitors on the back foot for any sustained period.

It was a similar story in the second half, with Michael Jennings botching a try when he coughed up the ball on the line before a Daniel Tupou effort was ruled out for obstruction by Pearce.

Foran and Anthony Watmough went close for Manly, but Lyon's kick in front of the posts gave the scoreline some extra gloss.

A free-scoring Broncos were deserved winners against a Dragons side whose poor goal-line defence cost them dearly.

Close range tries to Sam Thaiday (19th minute) and Todd Lowrie (46th) from the first pass off the ruck badly exposed the Dragons and has left coach Steve Price with plenty to work on after a promising start to the year.

Matt Gillett scored an early double to put the visitors ahead 12-0 after just 11 minutes before Dragons winger Jason Nightingale spectacularly latched onto a Sam Williams kick before wrestling his way over in the 15th minute.

St George Illawarra were then embarrassed by Thaiday before another Brett Morris try - his sixth for the year - and the conversion from Widdop in the 28th minute cut Brisbane's lead to 18-10.

Nightingale then grabbed his second four-pointer a minute after halftime for the try of the game when Dylan Farrell broke the Broncos' defence and kicked for the Kiwi flyer to scoop the Steeden up and score.

The Dragons had done well to work their way back into the game before Lowrie then waltzed over.

Dale Copley then put the Broncos further ahead 30-16 in the 59th minute when Brisbane created numbers on their right-hand side.

Gerard Beale then brought the Dragons closer when he showed great toe to outsprint the Broncos defence in the 65th minute.

Ben Hunt sealed the win in the 72nd minute before 10,526 fans when Brisbane again created an overlap on their right and Corey Parker kept his perfect conversion record of the night intact with his sixth goal.